Vímara Peres

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Statue of Vímara Peres in Oporto
created by Barata Feyo in 1968

Vímara Peres, Count of Portugal (Galicia, circa 820 — Guimarães, 873) from Vimara (Weimar or Guimar) and Peres (son of Peter) was a Christian warlord of the 9th century in west Iberia. He was a vassal of the King of Léon and was sent to conquer and secure from the Moors (Arabs and Berbers who invaded Visigothic Hispania) in the west coastal fringe of Gallaecia, from the Minho River to the Douro River, including the city of Portus Cale, later 'O Porto' (Oporto), from were the name Portugal emerged.

In 868 Count Vímara Peres established the First County of Portugal, after the reconquest of the region north of the Douro river.

He was able to expel the Moors and founded a fortified town under his own name Vimaranis (of Vimar) which later became Guimaranis, present day Guimarães (the Portuguese call it "The Cradle City").

Vímara Peres died in 873 in Guimarães. His son, Lucídio Vimaranes (Lucídio, son of Vímara), took control of the county. The dynasty of his House lasted until 1071 when Count Nuno Mendes was defeated by King Garcia II of Galicia and Portugal in the Battle of Pedroso.

[edit] House of Vímara Peres

Vímara Peres (c. 868-873)
Lucídio Vimaranes (son of Vímara - 873-?)
Onega Lucides (daughter of Lucídio) ∞ Diogo Fernandes (?-before 924)
Mumadona Dias (daughter of Onega and Diogo) ∞ (926) Mendo Gonçalves I (also know as Hermenegildo Gonçalves, son of Count Gonçalo of Galicia)
Gonçalo Mendes (son of Mumadona and Mendo) (c. 950-999; in 997 took the title Magnus Dux Portucalensium, Grand-Duke of Portugal)
Mendo Gonçalves II (son [or grandson?] of Gonçalo) (999-1008) ∞ Tuta
Alvito Nunes (collateral line, descent of Vímara Peres), ∞ Countess Tudadomna) (1008-1015)
Ilduara Mendes (daughter of Mendo Gonçalves II and Tuta) ∞ Nuno Alvites (son of Alvito Nunes and Tudadomna) (1017-1028)
Mendo Nunes (1028-1050)
Nuno Mendes (1050-1071) - last count of Vímara Peres' lineage; defeated by King Garcia II of Galicia and Portugal in the Battle of Pedroso.